Patents by Inventor Bruce R. Wrenbeck

Bruce R. Wrenbeck has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5495155
    Abstract: An improved current sensing circuit is provided in, or for use with, a power delivery circuit having a current controlling device of the type which includes auxiliary current sensing terminals. The current sensing circuit is particularly useful in conjunction with a respective current sensing power MOSFET located in the "high side" of a switching circuit, such as an H-bridge switch for a bidirectional load. The current sensing circuit has two branches connected to the current sensing MOSFET and to a reference potential and constructed to provide an output voltage signal representative of the main current through the current sensing MOSFET. The first branch includes at least two transistors and a resistor serially connected between a current sense terminal of the MOSFET and a reference potential. The second branch also includes at least two serially connected transistors connected between a terminal of the MOSFET and the reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Juzswik, Bruce R. Wrenbeck
  • Patent number: 5436539
    Abstract: A power window system employs a computer based control that receives signals from a window position sensor. As the window moves, the position sensor produces periodic signals as an output. The computer cyclically looks for a change in the frequency of the signals as an indication that the window is obstructed and decelerating. Based on the instantaneous deceleration, the computer recalls a stored value for motor force. The recalled forces are accumulated in synchronism with the position sensor output during the deceleration, manifesting the force applied to the obstruction as the window presses on it. The window is reversed when the accumulated force exceeds a stored value. The uppermost window position is a stored value for the position sensor output obtained when the window is closed for the first time. Each time the window is closed thereafter, an offset is added to that value, the sum defining the point at which the window engages the window seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Wrenbeck, Jeffrey T. Kelley, Pedro A. Perez
  • Patent number: 5272589
    Abstract: Power dissipation across the coils in a relay control system is controlled by regulating the voltage across all the coils with a regulator that senses the voltage and varies the conduction time of the switch carrying the total coil current. The regulator includes timing and logic elements that sense if the switch is operating correctly. Another switch is operated by the logic elements to shunt the first switch when the first switch is not operating correctly. This ensures that normal coil function is available in the event of a first switch failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce R. Wrenbeck
  • Patent number: 5210475
    Abstract: An improved current sensing circuit is provided in, or for use with, a power delivery circuit having a current controlling device of the type which includes auxiliary current sensing terminals. The current sensing circuit is particularly useful in conjunction with a respective current sensing power MOSFET located in the "high side" of a switching circuit, such as an H-bridge switch for a bidirectional load. The current sensing circuit has two branches connected to the current sensing MOSFET and to a reference potential and constructed to provide an output voltage signal representative of the main current through the current sensing MOSFET. The first branch includes at least two transistors and a resistor serially connected between a current sense terminal of the MOSFET and a reference potential. The second branch also includes at least two serially connected transistors connected between a terminal of the MOSFET and the reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive
    Inventors: David L. Juzswik, Bruce R. Wrenbeck
  • Patent number: 5192873
    Abstract: A fail-operational control system utilizes low current switches for controlling vehicle high current loads. In a normal mode of operation, the control system utilizes a CPU to control the loads in response to input signals provided to the CPU by the low current switches. In a fail-operational mode of operation, during failure or removal of the CPU, certain high current loads are switched directly by corresponding low current switches to provide continued operation of the certain high current loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Wrenbeck, David A. Parker